Tomato Prices Plummet by Over 50% Since July

Tomato prices have significantly dropped from a high of P200 per kilo last month to as low as P80 per kilo. This drastic price reduction has led some farmers in Nueva Vizcaya to reportedly dispose of their surplus tomato produce.

Surplus Management

Department of Agriculture (DA) Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa stated that the department is coordinating with regional field offices in the Cordillera Administrative Region and Cagayan Valley to address the reported surplus. De Mesa suggested that the surplus tomatoes could be donated to Kadiwa stores or transported to Metro Manila with the necessary support for trucking.

Current Price Range

According to the latest monitoring by the DA, tomato prices now range from P80 to P120 per kilo. The department is exploring options to prevent a large surplus in vegetable harvests by establishing agricultural infrastructure.

Proposed Solutions

To mitigate the impact of surplus and low prices, the DA is considering the development of post-harvest and cold storage facilities in key production areas. “Cold storages can prolong the life of vegetables,” De Mesa explained. Without these facilities, vegetables ripen quickly, forcing farmers to sell at significantly reduced prices.